Bilic still confident over Carvalho capture

Slaven Bilic remains confident of securing the signing of Sporting CP midfielder William Carvalho as West Ham seek a boost late in the transfer window.

With deadline day looming, the Hammers are reportedly still in negotiations with the Primeira Liga club over a fee for the 25-year-old, who has a EUR45million buy-out clause.

Back-to-back Premier League losses to begin the campaign have heightened the urgency for reinforcements at London Stadium, but Bilic expects Portugal international Carvalho to arrive soon.

"It's hard to be objective, but I am quite confident," said the West Ham boss. "It's the position we have been trying to [cover] for a couple of seasons. I feel we need someone to boost our team and quality.

"That's why we also offloaded some players to get the budget for him or for another player in that position. The quality player and not the quantity one, a squad player. They are not easy to get them, but we are doing our best and hopefully we will do it."

The Croatian also dismissed reports linking the club with a move for Sunderland's Didier Ndong as an alternative to Carvalho.

"It's too late for anything else, so no," he said. "That's it. But I hope we are going to get him."

The Hammers travel to Newcastle United on Saturday, having beaten League Two Cheltenham in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.